the vale of

Imagine quintessential . Rolling countryside, thatched cottages, country lanes, white horses on chalk hills. Welcome to the , one of the most beautiful and unspoilt places in the UK. Readily accessible by road and rail, the Vale is located in the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and on the Great West Way. Circular Walk

Wootton Rivers Traversed by the Ridgeway and Kennet & Avon Canal, Kennet & Avon Canal served by a network of ancient footpaths, Mud Lane tracks, and bridleways, the Vale of Pewsey is ideal for walking, riding or cycling, with welcoming places to stay, friendly and atmospheric places to eat, drink and shop, and local events 3.5 miles / 5.25 km to enjoy throughout the year. 1.5-2 hours Generally level with some inclines on the lanes. The Green Man

A carving For more information go to Canal towpath, tarmac roads, in living wood www.visitpewseyvale.co.uk created in or around footpaths and fields. Can be muddy in places. 2005 by a local artist who remains UNSUITABLE FOR WHEELCHAIRS & BUGGIES anonymous.

Leaflets supported by

walks in the vale of pewsey 1 Start at Village Hall (free) car park or park in the bays near the canal. 6 5 2 Turn right out of the Village Hall car park, walk down the road about 250 yards, cross the canal bridge then turn left through the gate onto the towpath passing Lock House. The large white property was originally two small cottages that predate the canal. During the 1980s it was used to film the TV series “The River” 7 starring David Essex. 4 3 Follow the towpath for approximately 1 mile, passing Heathy Close & Brimslade locks with the grand Elizabethan house on your right. At Canal bridge No 105, just before Cadley lock, turn left crossing the bridge to leave the canal behind. Walk up the tarmac drive past another white canal side cottage, carry on up the hill and down the other side until you meet the road.

4 Carry straight on up the road for about 250 yards 8 then turn left at the remains of an old railway bridge onto Mud Lane, an ancient track which is now part of 3 the White Horse Trail & Tan Hill Way. Mud Lane can become quite overgrown and as the name suggests, it can be very muddy. P 5 About half a mile along Mud Lane, a bridleway 1 crosses your path, carry straight on. After another 400 yards keep an eye out for the Green man carved onto the limb of an oak tree. It’s about 7ft high and 2 you can easily miss it.

6 Approximately 40 yards past the Green Man turn left © Crown copyright and database rights 2018 Ordnance Survey 0100031673 Leaflet © Pewsey Vale Tourism Partnership through a gap in the thicket which is opposite a small wooden footpath sign. As you go through the gap St Andrew’s Church in Wootton Rivers has a unique clock which was made to keep to the left of the Ash tree. The field opens up to commemorate the coronation of King George V in 1911. Local resident, Jack give a view over Wootton Rivers and Plain Spratt, made it from various bits of scrap metal and describes his work in his in the distance. Go down the headland of the field, poem “The Scrap Heap Clockmaker of Wootton Rivers”. keeping the hedgerow to your right until you reach the bottom corner. Lock House 7 Follow the path left at the bottom edge then after 200 yards turn right down a grassy bridleway, for about half a mile. This path leads you back onto the lane into Wootton Rivers.

8 The last part of the walk is on tarmac lane through the village. The 16th century Royal Oak pub is on your left before you reach the village hall.